



Hook H^J^^ 



l'ld:SKNTKl) IIY 



ALEXANDER HAMILTON. 

(THE FlUST PROTECTIONIST.) 



AN ACCOUNT OF HIS SERVICES IN THE STRUGGLE FOR POLITI- 
CAL AND INDUSTRIAL INDEPENDENCE OF GREAT BRITAIN 

AND IN THE 

FOUNDING OF THE AMERICAN SYSTEM OF PROTEGTION OF 
HOME INDUSTRY, 

BY DkB. RANDOLPH KEIM. 

lECBETAIlT EASTEBN PIO IBON ASSOCIATION. 




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DERATlok''.OF AMERICAN INDUSTRY 



^ Advocacy oNhe doctnnes of ALEXANDER HAMJL10\ 
Wcv Tradi;^ r,oi.cnon and Public Econo»iy^Oppos,Uon 
theories- A >u\ican Mark ts for American -rodtuts-d ro- 



theories— A >>u\ucin Mam is jor nrui-nL^i.t. ■' .-- - 

-.s-^a n'eLceif l/u e^ a uJ standard of Amer,cm Labcn 
.u ono^u^ Jf AnuruanhnaHslry-Extenst.nv\AmerucmLommac. 

Jern>£;Ln/ to S^np^urldmg and Mail TransporlaUo« ■ 

IvTlVK Club, HE\DQUAVlE.tS, \VASHINGTO>iy U. L. 

: THf, TaRifi-' Record, Washington, D. C. 



Gift 



SEf ?6 1910 



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THE AMERICAN ECONOMIC SYSTEM. 



CORNERSTONE OF INDUSTRIAL AUTONOMY. 

THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. 
AMONG the long list of grievances charged agiiast the British King and 
?.Iinistry were the "'Cutting off our trade with 'all parts of the World, " " im- 
posing taxes on us without our consent " and "plundering our seas." 

KEYSTONE OF FEDERATE INDUSTRIAL POLICY. 
THE CONSTITUTION OF TFIE UNITED STATES. 

CONFERRING upon Congress the power to lay and collect taxes, duties, 
imposts and excises, to pay tlie debts, and provide for the general v/elfare of tlie 
United Sates. To regulate commerce vv'ith foreign nations and among the 
States, coin money and to promote the progress of science and useful arts. 

FOUNDERS OF AMERICAN PROTECTION. 

GEORGE WASHINGTON OF VIRGINIA. 
A free people ought not only to be armed, but disciplined, to which end a 
uniform and well digested plan is requisite ; and their safety and interest re- 
quire that they should promote such manufactories as tend to render then 
independent on others for es^entinl, and particularly military supjilies " * * 
The advancement of agriculture, commerce and m?.nuf;ctures liv aU proper- 
means will not I trust need recommendation. ( Jf'^js/ii>><^tc>/i's First Anincil 
Address to the Cons^nss of the U. 5", Jan. 8. 1790.-) 

ALEXANDER HAMILTON OF--NEW Y'ORK. 

* * * A ful view having nn-v't-'en taken of the inducements to t'le 
promotion of manufactures in the United 'States, * * * it is proper, in 
the next place to consider the means by which it may be effected, » » * 

1. Protecting duties — or duties on those foreign articles which are the rival ; 
of the domestic ones intended to be encouraged, 

The propriety of this species of encouragemeiit need n'")t be dvvelt up- 
,on, as it is not only a clear result from the numerous topics which have l:)ae!i 
suggested, hut is sanctioned by the laws of the United States, it has the ad- 
ditional recommendation of being a source of revenue. » » » 

2. Prohibitions of rival articles, q'! duties equivalent to prchi!:)itions. 3. Pro- 
hibitions on the exportation of the materials of manufactures. 4. Pecuniary 

-i unities e,. Premiums. 6. The exemption of the miterials if nnnufactures 
fro'n du'y. 7. Drawbacks of du'ies 0% th\nateriah of mannfictures. 

* * * Considering a monopoly of. the domestic market to its own man- 
u'"acturers as the reigning policy of manufacturing nations, a similar policy, 
on the part of tl^ United States, in every proper instai^ce, is dictated, it 
might ahno.st be said by the principles of distributive justice ; certainly, by 
the duty of endeavoring to s^cur-e to their own citizens a reciprocity of ad- 
vantages. * {Report of Alexander Ha-nilton, First Secretary of the Treasury.') 

' 7nE FIRST CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES. 

"jJilvEAS it is is necessary for the support of goverment, f^3r the dis- 
r the debt of the United States, and the encouragement and Pro- 
*/^f ■ii'^niifictures thai duties be liid on goods wares and merchandise 
; 1 . ■; , ■ ( PreanihU cf fint A- 1 Imt one,pnssed by Cc-n^res^ July 4, 1 789.;; 




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PREFACE. 



) 



N the following sketch of the life of. Alexander Hamilton, first Secretary 
of the Treasury in,, the Cabinet of President George Washington, the 
object in view has been to present in a concise form the origin of the 
American doctrine of encouragement of home industry by protective legisla- 
tion. The Colony of Massachusetts adopted measures to encourage textile 
industry by colonial enactments. In the province of Pennsylvania the same 
system was adopted with respect to certain branches of metallurgical industry. 
So beneficent were the results that acts of the British Parliament were 
passed making it a criijinal offence to engage in certain manufactures in the 
Colonies. The restrictive measures of Parliament against the trade and 
manufactures of the American Colonies were as conspicuous among the 
causes which led to the war for independence as was the opposition of the 
Colonists to taxation without representation. The formulation of the doctrine 
of American Industrial Autonomy was the work of Hamilton in the very 
incipiency of the struggle, and how intelligently, persistently and success- 
fully he ingrafted that doctrine into the policy of the Government, will have 
been seen in the following pages. The experience of the country has also 
demonstrated that the nearest approaches to free trade have invariably been 
periods of industrial ruin and National disaster. Such was the fact in 1837, 
1S47 and 1857. High protective tariffs have always been attended by pros- 
perity and industrial activity. The facts set forth in this sketch should, 
therefore, be a necessary part of the information of every citizen of the 
United States who desires to think and act intelhgently on the subject of 
Protection as the paramount principle of American public economy. 

K. 
Washington, D. C, 18S6. 



(7) 



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AUTHOR~PUBLICIST~SOL DTER—STA TESMAN. 



CHAPTER 1 



IN adopting the name of Alexander liAMiLroN, First Secretary of the 
Treasury in the Cabinet of Washington, as the title of the Administra- 
tive and auxihary organizations contemplated in this movement in the 
maintenance and support of sov^nd doctrines of Public Economy, represented 
in their dissemination in this series of papers under the League title, we take 
from the roll of founders and architects of American constitutional govern- 
ment, the foremost statesman of mi a':e of statesmen, without liniitatiog^f 
country or nationality. The romance of his birth and childhood; the pre- 
cocity of his youth; the maturity of Ins < arly manhood; the gr.;v/ing splen- 
.lor of his ripening years and the trage.y of' his untimely death, unite to 
malce him one of the mos^conspicuous figures in American History. In Iiis 
life we have an example worthy of imitation by all Americans. In his works 
we have the enduring monuments of a man whn sought only the advance- 
ment, prosperity and v. elfare of his countrymen. To retrace the footsteps of 
Ids career; to study the grarJeur end receiVe the inspiration of his public 
acts is a first duty d thoisc v.dio believe in American nationality and Ameri- 
can institutions. 

VAK'\y,, Family and Youth. 

'hose veins coursed tjie blood of one of the 
clans, the Hamilton's of Grange, was born 
Janaary ri, 1757, on the !i;t'e British jsland of Nevis, a fei'tile zone encyr- 
cling a voLaniccone 2,5o.-v feet above the water.s ''6f the Carribean sea, "Snd 
group, krovn as the Leeward Isles about 55 
iiamilto'i raised to mercantile pursuits, in his 
a of ac'.ivicy in the West Indies, settling at St, 
'. " f;n''>lh^r member of the sa'me group .nordi-; 
l vix-A, by a strait l;4 miles wide. %^- 

':-\ woiTiun by descent had been the wife of a-vdcl" 
' s Hamilton, Of the family born of this happy 
' e youngest and the only child to^rea^h 
-- a woman of great beauty, refineo^fti-j^ 
omplishments, diedwli'^r ^ ' ■ " -f;*- 



Alexander liAMiL-xo 
mi St illustrious of the s; 



one of the West India, 
square miles. The elde 
youth soughr. a larger fi 
Christophers or " bi. V\ 
west of and separatc.l f ; • 

Hamilton's mother .■ 
Dane, when.- .she mar.";c'l 
nuptial alliance Alcrccij 
aS£ttireJtoyear.s, H;;; ; 
ner?i, ct^''.t1'*'' - ' 





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ALEX^ 



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cliild. His fattier through the misfortunes of trade fell into hopele.ss ba' 
ruptcyand poverty. Tlie child thus became a charge of his mother's relat' 
who resided on the Danish Island of Santa Cruz, the most southern of the 
Virgin group, and a shoit distance west of St, Christopher's* There he 
acquired English and French, and the rudiments of knowledge at the school 
of a Jewess. Under the friendly direction of a Presbyterian clergyman he 
also enlarged his r.-nge of study. He was placed in the counting house of 
Nicholas Cruger, a successful merchant and estimable man. Before he had 
reached fourteen years liis mastery of the business led his employer to place 
it in his sole cara and left the island for a time. The life of a merchant was 
not tasteful to young Hamilfon, but following a ca;dinal principle of his s^jb- 
sequent career, he never failed in his duty. 

In 1772 a hurricane si^/ept over the Leeward Isles with great violence. In 
the newspaper of St. Christopher's, immediately after, there appeared so 
thrilling a description of the fury and effects of the warring elements that the 
inhabitants and governor of Santa Cruz, v/ere eager to know its author. Their 
efforts resulted in tracing the account to Hamilton, then but fifteen years old. 

Arrival in thic Colon'ie^ — Education. 

The remar:::;b'e aptitude dispn,yed by one so young enlisted the friendly 
interest of the chief residents of the Island. A fund was placed at his dis- 
posal and in October, 1772,. he sailed for Boston. From Boston he proceeded 
to New York. He entered the ' grammar-school under the patronage 
of Governor Livingston and Eli.i.s Boudinot, at Elizabethtov/n. Through his 
eaidy friend the venerable p st.r i Nevis, he was introduced to the best 
society of New York. One ye.ir later and ihe toiling pedagogue of the 
grammar-school at Eiizabethtow 1, announced that his pupil was ready to 
enter college. Appearing a" PrinceLoi the striplin;^ of sixteen astounded the 
venerable President, Dr. Witherspoon, by asking admission to any class 
that examination might find him fitted for and permission to go on with such 
rapidity as his studies might determine. Tliis request was refused. Pie 
turned to Ki'-g's, now Columbia College New York. There he made the 
same request which was granted, aiid in ihe fall of 1773, l^egan his collegiate 
course. 

Events were iip^ningfor the iv^vola'aoa of 1776. The stamp Aci of 1765 
the proceedings' t)f 1768 in Massachusetts', the collisions between the Roya 
troops and the people; the Boston Massacre of- 1770, and public agitation 
would have been sufiicientto divert most youths, fired v/ith the longings of 
ambition, from their studies'. But Hamilton continued at his books, laying 
up stores of knowledge and intellectual traming as his opportunities offered, 
and which he utilized v.ith such resple: dent glory so soon after. 

Early in 1774 Hamilton to8k lime fnun his s'udics to revisit Boston, That 
town of liberty-loving people was ail excitmen': over the boarding of the 
British tea-ships. Born and reared to yea:s of adolescence in a colony sub- 
missively *. ritish, young HamiltOi' might naturally have inclined to unquestion- 
ing loyalty to his sovereign, llavin.'!; p::ssed his time since his arrival in a 
royal cclony and royal city, d:5.ninated by 'iWies and Tory influence 
pursuing his studies in an institution under' Toi-y control, he was 
osition to give the cause of the colonies his scrutini2iijg consideratlc .. , ., 

\-;:on, however, he found hhnself rapidly warming \^Q approval an( 

i'/\v-;ih \y-' people in thc'r assertion cf th;ir ri;;d;t;5?-;?;ainst tyranny. 



.'■>ym 



ALEXANDER HAMILTON, 



"jtl^^u^d 




We soon see him again at his studies in New York. No longer 
find him indifferent to passing events, but a vigilant observer of their 
test details. On July 6, 1774, we see him an earnest listener at a me' 
patriots in the subuibs of New York, convened for the choice of delo 
the proposed general Congress of all the Colonies, The fire of his natiii-e 
rose with the earnestness of the occasion. Soon we find him, a boy io vears. 
stature, appearance and manner, rising to address the assembled multitude, 
In the gathering were ojcl men, and sages of note in the patriot cause. It 
was a trying moment for a youth of seventeen, but the m".turity of his views, 
the wisdom of his counsel and the fo'ce of his arguments soon won for him 
the most earnest attention of his patriot auditors. 



CHAPTER II. 




Espousal of the Patriot Cause. 

I^HE conspicuous part taken by Hamilton at the New York Meeting of 
July 6, 1774, at once fixed his p'ace in tlie front rank of the advocates 
of the cause of the Colonies. He supplemented his voice In his 
pen His contriliutions t3 the whig newspapers of the ciiy, thojgh anony- 
mous, attracted universal attention, and their unknown author was loud'y ap- 
plauded not only by the large whig element, but by the discerning minds of 
John Jay, Governor Living;,ton, a d other leaders. In Sept , 1774, the first 
general Congress represe.iling all th' Colonies but Georgia, met at Phila- 
delphia, and prepared a second Declaration of Rights, that of 1765 claim- 
ing taxation and representation as insep arable,, pledging th- colonies ag.ainst 
commercial intercourse, nrd drew upa petition to the King, and an arldress to 
the people of Great I'ritain and Canada. After the adjournment of the 
Continental Congress, tlie Tory writ-rs and leaders were ready anl active 111 
their ctLticisms and condemnation of the measures of that b d.. Tiae cele- 
brated DiTkSeabury, afterwards I'rotestant Episcopil I5ish ip o^, Connectinit, 
and the first Bishop of ihit churcli in the Ui^ited States led off in a pamph- 
le. entitled "Free Thoughts on the Proceedings of the Coniinental Con- 
crress," whxh was followed b ••Coagress Canvassed, by a WeUcheit-r 
Farmer." The latter also by a clerical Tory, named vVilkins, of Westchester 
County, N. Y. -'oth laamjihleis were characterized by gre.at force of argu- 
ment and were doing great injurv to the cause of the Colon.ei iivthe maids 
of the people.. The Whi': le/ders -ere bewildered by the erocity o^f these 
attacks. Several weeks elapsed without reply. The .dence of the Whigs, 
gave the Tories rencv.etl courage and emboldened by the supposed invulnera- 
bility of their position, fiiej^^ec.-nie abusive both i'. the press and m pu.ilic. 
The MtOAl^J^REs o? Congress DiU'ExoEi). 
On Dec. 15, 1774, there appeared a pamphlet under tlie title: ; ■ ii'.1' 
Vindication of the Measures of Congress from the caiiimnies 'li 'I" n- 
enemies, in answer to a Letter under the signatu e of a Westchester I-aiui r; 



ALEXANDER HAMILTON. 



tl^ 






' his sophistry is exposed his cavils confuted, his. artifi, 



cl's detec^^.j^'Trr 



O -idiculed, in a General Address to the inhal)itants of AniericX^'and d 



wl 

his 

partiv itr Address to ihe Farmers of the Province of New York 

VcriiaPmagna est ct preval bit. — [Truth is powerful and will prevail ] 

The entire paper displayed a purity of d'cilo , euphony of expression, 
brilliancy of thought, proiundity of reasoning, boldness of conviction, ra ical- 
ism of principle and cou:age -jf declaration, which filled the Toiie> with sur- 
prise and consternation, and raised the lagging spirits of the Whigs to ihe 
highest point of enthusiasm. They attributed this oyerwhelmin.r vindication 
of their cause to John Jay, later Chief Jusiice of the indepe^ident United 
States of America. They little thought that so mature a paper emanated 
from the brain of a youth of sevente^ i. As a defence of the action of the 
First Continental Congress of the United States of America, it was a ma ter- 
piece of disp.issi nate eloquence and convincing and over-whelming logic. 
But it was more tlian this, it was the first presentation to the people of the 
American colonies of the whole scope of the impending s rug;^ e, the r ght-- 
eousness of their ciuse, the burdens of the conflict and the certainty of 
success. It presented every cardinal p.incip'e embodied by Jefferson in the- 
Declaration of Independence, ei'fhteen months la er. In fact it vvas the 
Revolution of 1776, on paper near y twa. years before the conflict began. 
The American DocTiiiNE of Eyuvi. Rigmt.-; Proclaimed. 
It would be impossible in this connection to go into the details of this re- 
markable pamphlet. It will be suthc ent to note a few of its saliet points, in 
order to show that the Hamilton League in advocating the princi]3les of their 
hero are supporting Constitutional Government and Industrial Independence in 
its original and most exalted Americm form. In addressing his ' Friends 
and Fellovv-Countrymen," the tiien anonymous pamphleteer asserted, "The 
equity, wisdom.' and authority of ihe measure:, adopted by Congress," 
whether considered in coniection with "the characters of the men v/ho com- 
posed it; the number and dig iiy of their constituents; or the import.mt 
ends for which they w<. re appointe^l," he claimed ; ''that' Americans are en- 
itled to freedom, is incontestable upon every rational p.inciplc. All mea 
have one common original, they participate in one common nature and c ;n- 
sequently have one common right, since then Arneric.xn^ hive not bv any act 
of theirs empowered the British Parliiment to make lavvs for tlie.ii, it follows 
they can have no just authority to do it." Here is the very doctrin;; enun- 
ciated in the Preamble of the Declar lion of Independence, eighteen months 
later. This fund miental principle of American f.jiberty he ably supported 
by arguments and facts aird exposed the subterfuges of lo:ric, by m 'ans of 
which the Tory leaders endeivored to divert popular sentiment from the real 
principles of the controver y. 

Industrial Autono.my Foreshadowed. 
In treating upon the tyrannical acts of parliament affecting Ameacan trade 
and manufactures, he boldly enunciated the first declaration of the cardinal 
principles of the American F -onomi ■. System. " There is no law eithe-- of 
nature or of the civil societ, in which we live, that obliges us to purchase 
and, make use of the products and manufactures of a different land or peop'ft. 
* ,,? * Humanity does not require us to sacrifice our own se urily :incl 
welfar^. to the convenience or ndvantage' of 01 hers. * * * In civil 
society",. it is the duty of each parficulatj branch to jiromote, Kot o.dy the gocd 



ALEXANDER HAMILTON. 



o 



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U- 



^fie whole community, but the good of every other particular branch, it 
one part endeavors to violate the rights of another, the rest ought to assist in 
preventing the injury. When they do not, but remain neutral, they are de- 
ficient in their duty and may be regarded, in some measure, as accomplices." 
Here is a precept for all manufacturers to note. 

He adds with respect to the manufaptarers of Great Britain, they are 
criminal in a more particuUr sense. Our oppression arises from that mem- 
ber of the greit body policic, of which they compose a considerable part. 
* * *It may not be amiss to add, that we are ready to receive with open 
arms anv who may be sufferers by the operation of our measui-es, and re- 
compense them with every blessing our country affords to honest industry." 

He advised a restriction of trade with England as the only peaceable 
method to avoid the impending mischief He gives a review of the rivals of 
British Trade, shows the leading importance of that of the American 
Colonies, and "that it would be extremely hurtful to the commerce of Great 
Britain, to drive us to the necessity of laying a regular foundation for manu- 
fatories of our own ; which if once established, could not easily, if at aM, be 
undermined or abolished." 

With the mature reasoning of a ripened statesman thus.early, fifteen years 
before his report on manufactures, the foundation of the American Industrial 
System, he propounded the idea of the Colonies becoming manufacturing 
rivals of the Mother Country. 

Political Separation Possible. 

This overwhelming vindication not only of the measures of the First 
Continental Congress, but of the cause of the Colonies drew out a reply from 
the Weschester Farmer, under the head "A view of the Controversy <S;c." 
The pen of the anonymous writer, "mightier than the sword," on February 
5. 1775, rallied to the support of the patriot cause in a pamphlet, "The 
Farmer Refuted," &c. Tituliremedia pollicentiir sed pizedcs ipsaevenena con- 
tinent. (The title promises remedies, but the box (thing) itself poisons.) 
In this paper the writer discusses the relations of the Colonies to Great 
Britain and the constitutional authority of Parliament, giving prominence to 
the fact that the settlement of New England was "instigated by a detestation 
of civil and religious tyranny." He foreshadowed the possibihty of political 
separation and prophetically cast the political and industrial horoscope of 
America. 

The credit of these pamphlets was at first given to John Jay, or Gov. 
Livingston, but soon irrefragable proof established the fact of Hamilton's 
authorship. He was then but eighteen. The clerical champions of the Tory 
cause were so completely routed ihat they retired from the field. 

Any American whether in Congress or out of it^falling into Tory notions 
of I774-'S, revived in the pro-Britishism of iSS^Tinder the guise of Tariff 
Reform or Tariff for Revenue only, or anyother false pretenses of the enemies 
of American Industrial Autonomy, would honor himself and save his reputa- 
tion for patriotism and intelligence by reading up in this pamphlet controversy 
He would come out of the task a better American than by giving ear to pro- 
British econonic theories, filtered through the mercenaries or dupes of the 
Cobden Club 



14 



ALEXANDER HAMILTON. 



CHAPTER III. 



Hamilton in the Revolution. 

THE vigor of Hamilton's pen and the influence of his zeal were so 
marked in their effects upon popular sentiment, not only in New York, 
but in all the Province; hat the Tory leaders soon realized the im- 
portance of trying to induce him to abandon the Colonies and to enlist in sup- 
port of their own views of the questions at issue. The advantages of social 
position were presented to him, but these failing the last argument of British 
power — gold, was tried Ihe temptations of social and pecuniary rewards 
backed by the supporters of his King, it might have been feared, would have 
their effect upon a youth of l8. But not so All inducements to betray the 
cause he had espoused wew passed in contempt. In order to make his devotion 
to the Colonies more emphatic a fe\v*inonths after, June, 1775, ^^ gave out 
another pamphlet "Remarks on the Quebec Pill." This as did his former 
efforts, attracted universal attention and was his answer to Tory attempts to 
debauch him. 

Leakni.n'c. ihe art of War. 
The contact of armies ha t at last been reached. The news of Lexington 
had demonstrated that more direct and conclusive methods thnn the pen 
were demanded in tlie assertioa of the principles of liberty for which the 
Colonies were contendmg. Congress having decided to accept the arbitra- 
ment of arms, we find Hamilton among the earliest pupils of an adept in 
the art of war. He was one of a number of students whose patriotism had 
called I hem together into a corps under the fierce name ■' Hearts of Oak." 
Under the mi itary tuition of an English bombadier and ex-adjutant, the com- 
pany not only reached great proficiency in the manual and manoeuvres, but 
in the execution of the orders of the Provincial Committee to remove the 
cannon from the Batt ry, hey received their baptism of fire in a broadside 
from the frigate Asia, which wounded three and killed one of the company. 

Captain of Artillrv— In the Field. 
In the course of military preparations in New York, Hami.ton was ap- 
pointed to the c ptaincy of an Artillery Company and was assigned to the 
duty of guarding the Records of thj Colony. His proficiency in drill and 
command was so noticeable as 10 attract the attention of Gen. Schuyler 
which soon after was followed by an invitation to the headquarters of Gen. 
Washington. At the disastrous battle of Long Island, Hamilton was dis- 
tinsjuished for heroiC conduct in saving the Continental forces from annihila- 
lion lie later figured in the movements on the Hudson. At one time he 
urged Washington to permit him to storm Fore Wasliingtoh an important 
strategic point then just taken by the British, which, however, was refused as 
too hazardous He also took part in the retreat through New Jersey and the 



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I'iS 



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ALEXANDER HAMILTON. 



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guns of his company performecjyeffective service in checking the adyance of 
Cornwallis, who with a superior force, came upon the American Army as it 
was crossing the Raritan. He distinguished himself in the glories of Prince- 
ton and Trenton- 

ON the staff of WASlflNGTON. 

On March i, 1777, we find him at the age of 20 reluctantly leaving his com- 
pany of Artillery, now celebrated in the army, to accept a position on the 
staff of Washington, with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Once here he was 
soon recognized as the Commander-in chief's, "principil and most confiden- 
tial aid.", His advice was not only sought by the General, but in many in- 
stances outweighed that of all others. Hainilton accompuned Washington 
in all his campaigns. It was not, however, without frequent feelings of im 
patience that he contemplated his s paration from the mend active field of mil- 
itary duty, which opened the way to heroic exploits and promotion. But his 
pen was active and mightier than the sword on more than one occasion The 
letters of Publius, written by him about ihe time of the Gates -Conway Cabal 
were admired by Washington and tiae military minds of the army, as well 
as by the States Tien and Patriots of the American cause. In the seasons of 
greatest despondency the hope of success never faltered in the breast of 
Hamilton, in his corespondence i 1 the newspapers and his more thoughtful 
writings, he uniformily treated the outlook in such terms of encouragement 
and unfaltering conviction of success, that eyen Washington often found 
himself re-invigorated and stimu'ated by his faith in the destiny of the 
Colonies. During the cold, hunger, suffering and defeat, which surrou;)ded 
the army at Valley Forge, in winter of 1777, it is but necessary to compare 
the correspondence of Washingto i and Harailtoa, in order to appreciate the 
foreboding which occupied the though'.s oftlie one and the buovan^y and well 
grounded hope, even cheerfulness, of the other. It was in the month of No- 
vember^ 1777) that Washington, s superior confidence in the judgment and 
discretion of Hamilton was most notably shown. Gen. Gates having forced 
the surrender of Burgoyne, was naturally the recipient of much popular ap- 
plause. There was little doubt that he was deeply implicated in the infamous 
Cabal of that year, and even looked upoa himself as the i ival of Washington. 
The necessity of reinforcements in the vicinity of Philadelphia was imperative. 
Gates h.id ample forces under his cjmmandwith no immediate demand for 
their services. Hamilton was sent on a special mission to secure a porti.^n 
of this force. At first he was treated with disdain, but ultimately through 
firmness he accomphshed substantiatly what he went for, and at the same 
time brought the refractory General to a sense of subordination to his Com- 
mander in-chief 

In January, 1778, at 21 he prepared an elaborate paper on the re-organiza- 
tion of the Army, which was submitted by Washington to the Committe of 
Congress. 

Advocates Arming ti-e Negroes. 

At the height of the struggle he proposed the enlistment of negroes in the 
South, and Col. Laurens a southern man, was willing to command one of 
these battalions. In March, 1 779, he addressed a letter to Congress on the 
subject, in which he expressed his confidence that the Negroes would make 
excellent soldiers; that the contempt entertained for them was not founded 
in reason or experience He explained that an essential part of his plan was 
" to give them their freedom with their swords. " "This, " said he " will 




i6 



ALEXANDER HAMILTON. 



secure their fidelity, animate their courage and have a good influence on 
those who remain by opening a door to their emancipation, * * » t^g 
dictates of humanity and true policy equilly mterest me in favor of this class 
of men." Here again we find Hamilton far in advance of his age. More 
than eighty years had ehpsed before the soldierly qualities of the African race 
were put to the test. Results have demonstrated that the judgment of Ham • 
ilton was founded in wisdom and sagaci'y. 

At the age of 23 he also prepared important state papers on Military 
Regulations and Discipline, which were submitted by Washington to. Con- 
gress. 

Leaves the Staff. 
In February, 1781, in a moment of difference, Hamilton severed his 
connection as a member of the Staff. WJiile passing on the stairs of the 
Headquarters, Gen Washington said he wished to speak, to which Hamilton, 
then conveying a letter to an aid, replied that he wouid wait upon him im- 
mediately. On his return, being stopped for a moment by Marquis de 
Lafaye te. upon re iching the head of the stairs, Washington accostmg him 
said angrily : 

"Col Hamilton you have kept me waiting at the head of the stairs these 
ten minutes. I must tell you Sir, you treat me with disrespect " 

"I am not conscious of it Sir, " said Col. Hamilton, "but since you have 
thought it necessary to tell me so, v.-e part." 

"Very well -Sir," said \\ a hington, "if it be ) our choice." 
Hamilton in a letter to Gen Schuyler said that his absence could not have 
exceeded two minutes Washington at once saw the injustice of his anger 
and within less than an hour sent an ai 1 to Col. Hamilton, expi'essing his 
desire "to heal a difference, which could not have happened but in a moment 
of passion " The request for a reconciliation was refused by Hamilton, on 
the ground th t he liad long wished to leave the Staff, as during the four 
years service tliere, he ha I lost frequent opportunities to distinguish himself. 
He had sicrificed his future to the wishes of his Chief. The opportunity to 
sever his connection by Ins Chief's own act was now offered, and he seized it. 
Not, however, fr-'-m motives of resentment, but from a dislike of the position. 
Cavillers have made this a ground of assault upon Hamilton, and in the heat 
of political excitement years after it was raised against him. The events 
of later years are tlie best answer to all these assaults. Immediately after 
thin arcat he applied for a command in a light corps. The jealousy of other 
oScers ga e Washington great embarrassment and while unable to grant the 
request, \Va;hing on sent a letter of explanation Hamilton appreciated the 
situation of his chief and quietly acquiesced in the disappointment. 
Leading an assault .\t Yorktown. 
In the early summer of 1781, finding his inactivity growing irksome he en- 
closed his commission to Washington, but the General's solicitation and the 
hope of early occupat'on in the field caused him to withdraw it. 

V\ e next find Hamilton in command of a corps of light Infantry in La- 
fayette's Division on the Peninsula of Yorktown. On October 6, 1781, he oc- 
cupied the first p irallel within 600 yards of Cornwallis' works. On October 
14, Hamilton with his men stormed the abattis and carried the British Re- 
doubt in a manner which called forth the applause of Washington and 
Lafayette. It was the most brilHant exploit of the siege and sealed the fate 
of Cornwallis. the last act in the drama of the American Revolution. 




ALEXANDER HAMILTON. 




Leaves the Army. 
It was apparent to Hamilton that the surrender of Cornwallis and his army 
dissipated the last hope of the British cause in America. With the prospects 
of peace came a desire to enter into the practice of liw. He returned to 
New York, with perm ssion to hold his commission until there was no 
further prospect of fighting. He refused al pay and emoluments for the 
time he was absent f.om tlie r\rmy. His resignation followed soon after. 
We see him at the early age of 24, brilliant as a writer and distinguished as 
a soldier, entering a carcvirr of private worth and pub ic service, which has 
niade him a model of American citizenchip. During the time of his military 
services Hamilton was layi ;.g the foundation of a career of greatness in the- 
walks of st'te'manship. On the tented field and surrounded by the discom- 
forts and trial of hard marches and ill-supplied campaigns, his mind was en- 
grossed in the study of Government, Public Economy and Finance' In the 
pay book of his Artillery Comp?.ny, as early as 1776, still preserved, may be 
seen copious notes of his views on political economy. 



CHAPTER IV. 



II w 






Enters Professional Life. 

ON December 14, 1780, Hamilton married Elizabeth, second daughter 
of General Philip Schuyler, one of the most earnest patriots and 
worthy soldiers of the American war of Independence. In the early 
spring of 1782, he began the study of law, in Albany, N. Y. After four 
months, in the following July, we find him not only admitted to the bar as an 
attorney, but also prominent as the author of "A manual on the practice 
u{ Law',"" which possessed so much merit that it served for the instruction of 
future students, antl later formed the groundwork of an enlarged treatise. 
His th .ughts, however, had long been much engrossed in the demands of 
his country in this formative period of its progress toward national existence 
and responsibilities of government 

Preparing the vVay for a strong Central Government. 
Even before the outlook of the struggle for Independence had assumed a 
most promising aspect, he began July, 1781, three months before the sur- 
render of Cornwallis, the publication of a series of papers under the general 
title "The Continentalist," designed to show the necessity of an augmenta- 
tion of the powers of the Confederation, and to prepare the way to the es- 
tablishment of a form of civil government possessed of more of the elements 
of National authority. In approaching th> subject he said, "we began this 
revolution with vague and confined notions of the practical business of govern- 
ment; " * « ♦ <«an extreme jealousy of pow^r is the attendant on all 
popular revolutions and has seldom been without its evils ; to this source we 
are to trace many of the fatal mistakes, which have so deeply endangered 
the common cause ; particularly that defect which wjll be the object or these 
remarks — a want of power in Congress." 




tS ALEXANDER HAMILTON. 



His ideas on that point were, that the existing powers of the Confederation 
were unequal" to a vigorous prosecution of the war or the preservation of 
the Union in peace; that History is full of examples, where in contests for 
Liberty, a. jealousy of power has either defeated the attempts to recover or 
preserve it, or has subverted it, by clogging government with too great pre- 
cautions for its felicity or by leaving too wide a door for sedition and popular 
licentiousness * ** * too much power leads lo despotism too little leads 
to anarchy." , 

What Powers wkre Needed. 
Having pointed out the defects of the system of the Confederation, he pro- 
ceeded in No. 4, (August 30, 1781) of the series, to show in what the aug- 
mentation should consist. The very first in the list was : 

•'The Power of Regulating Trade, comprehending a right of granting 
bounties and premiums, by way of encouragement, of imposing duties of 
eveiy kind as well for revenue as regulation, of appoi -ting all officers of the 
customs, and of laying embargoes in extraordinary emergencies." He claimed 
that thegreat defect of the Confederation was that it give the United States no 
revenue nor means of acquiring it inherent in themselves He then showed 
tlie practical result in the absence of credit arid indiffv.'ren:e of the States. 
The Power to Regulate Trade. 
At the very time that Hamilton was completing his legal stuuies in Albany 
he issued the last of his able ''Continentalist papers." In this he pointed 
out more in detail the fatal consequences of not authorizing the Federal Gov- 
ernment to regulate the trade of the States, " Besides " said he 'A pre- 
carious Union and a deficiency of provident superintendence to advance the 
gener d prosperity of trade, the landed inierest and laboring poor v.ould fall 
a sacrifice to the trading interest and the whole event aally to a bad system of 
policy, "claiming that Duties and Impoits would lighten the burthens on 
land; that the landed and trade interests are naturally dependent, ^vhat bene- 
fits the one serves the other." The Government having long been in a state 
of bankruptcy and verging on the borders of dissolution for want of revenues 
and powers, Congress passed on Act creating in each State a receiver of the 
Government quota of taxes. At the urgent solicitation of Governeur Morris, 
of N. v., Hamilton accepted the somewhat thankless office. The New 
York quota for the current year was $373,598, and Hamilton set about col- 
lecting it. He visited Governor Clinton, at Poughkeepsie, notifying him of 
his appointment and asked a conference with the Legislature. 
The First Step Towards the Present Form of Government. 
No sooner had Hamilton entered his new field of duty than he infused into 
public ; ffairs of New York, a marked degree of activity. The Legislature 
of New York cordially seconded his efforts to collect the State quota of gov- 
ernment taxes. One of his first steps was to prepare a plan of specific tax- 
ation for the State of New York, and a schedule of State taxes on imports in 
addition to the imports granted by Congress. 

On fuly 21 1782, the Legislature also passed a Resolution prepared by 
Ham iton for "A General Convention of the St tes to revise and amend the 
Conf deration," so as to enlarge the power of Congress and vest that body 
in fuiids. 

The resolution was to be transmitted to Congress and the seye«al States, 
for their ooroperotion. On the next day, July 22, 1782, he was ehpsen a 



W.'^' 



ALEXANDER HA ILTON. 



19 



delegate for the State of New York, to Congress for the next ensuing ye^ar. 
In the Congress of the Confederation. 
No soo„e>- had Hamilton entered d,e ':-'f''^''^:9j:r'<'Sr:V'Ti 

sunk so low m the scale of nationa.^ ^.^i:l^^:?'\„!M'f^;v,. ^^.r humiliatine 
accept the places. i'rom 



1 T.7K9 is one 



periods,.. mrA,.,... o< ^■-'^:^t?;,, ^^tSf™!!"'-' 

this period, "To be more exposed .1 tne ^^'.f,; .'-''^^^nele.Tales, n^ostly 
temJtible th«,r. we alreadr ^re is hard.y VO^^ J^JHt^^SlLtes. It 
meiv' of httie rninds, as a uih had no interest Levond ^^^i- o^' ' ^ 
wS therefore, a fc>rt.n.re thing lor A--^-.^^^ ^^£AS^- 
Hamiltcn entered th-. arena of ?;^-^'^.}:^ ^^^^ J^V^'^ States of 
sionerswere signing tiie ^^efmuive xreat^ dec.arn g rae u 

America a free Nation, A:v.encan ^^^^i^'^^]; y/i,^^^.r;'^^^^^^^ 
beciiity. That *hich the sword of >^/ashing on ^^^^^^^^^^ thread^ 
reared to the splendor of an mde^-euden^ ;t^;;::^f ofthf len L^.rasted 
the puerility, nidecision, 'ii=31^^^^'t.y,t:'vV':i/C,neri an cause looked widi 

2;S Sir^^;:.irS.;:^r ' r;S."it;^ gj ^He„d a„.„n. .,.e 
Nations of Europe and was ireated with oper. !rduf..encc. 

Effort to Restore tre Credit of the Government. 
Oa December 6, ^7S^ Hamilton's first io;i>ortan. ac.vj.th. introdu^tu^ 
of a resolution urging the States to con-myv^.^ he r aims ^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^ 

for paying the interest on ine deo. ar.,1 f«\^^'^,'^f'';,^j'P^On Decembei- i6, 
public creditors that the i«^r^*^t jusnce vmu Id u. don. U .^^^ ^^^^ 

he submitted a plan for the creauon of .. sinking tuna a-a p =, ^ 
faith of the United States to its execution. ,,,-...11,- a. indispensible 

In February 12, 1783, he introduced a '^^flf';^^^^^^ pe manent 
to a re,torati6n of pubbc credit, the provKhr.g oi_ Co.igre.s P 

and adequate funds '• lo be cohecled by Cone e.,^. 

REVENUE, r^iOTEraON AND COMMERCE 

On March 20, Hamilton pres_entcd resoh.vion^ ^^^^^^^ '^SS!- 



un iviartii xvj, iiciijn-.^... ,"'— T^rTic ivvs for the establish- 

with theh obligations to provide revenues a-id to f-^^^^ ■ ' 

mentol ccrtaa 
and appropriat 



-ligations to provide revenues a-idto P^ssiaws or .^ \,^(.teci 

aiS funds, "to be vested inthe United Stages ^-ua^obco ^^_ 
lated by their authority and thcr o^.rv ^>^^~^ -.ftZ ckitv on 



ccmuiendations .s to the sources of taxation was an ^" J^ f ^'.^a^e from 
articles of foreign ^ro.vth and "^^"t'-^^^'^l^^^.^^n-^wn-e for making them, 
a foreign country, occept wool cards, cotton cauls ^'f^"^ '"gn^iand - ^'■'• 
which^ that time were P-h^bited as a.1^ es 01 exp^ i^u^En. ^ 



the 



U.dled States, under penalties of imiKusonmentaiu hea^J^.n^^ ^^ 
\l->v I. he submitted a resciution auihorumguhe ipjct.ai 
■X u-eaty-wilh Great .Britain, meanwhile to entfr ii:ft^- 



'- j\b 



tiatv 

mmeritial con- 



ALEXANDER HAMILTON. 



FuRMl'LAIKS ritK AMERrCAN DOCTRINE OF No\-PA.RTICIPATION IN 

Foreign Politics. 
In a reso!uiio;i of May 21, 1783, Hamilton formulated the doctrine of non- 
p-irtici[3iti m in European politics. The treaty of recognition of the In- 
depe dence of the Uaited State.> b/ Great Britain hiving removed the pri- 
mary object of the mission to Russia, and while in all respects approving 
tl^e p-i'iciples of ar;nel neatrality founded on the liberal liasis of a mainten- 
a;ic.' of thj rights of neutral nations and the privileges of commerce, he was 
"•mwiUinjj to c )Tiplicate the interests of the United States with the politics 
of _K -ropj," a.i ! s.rfgested that if no steps were taken to make it dishonor- 
able t-.) re:.' \i, t ) suspend further action. 

Oi'PosEs Deportation of Neuroes, 

On May 2v.), (785, he introduced a resolution to prevent the deportation of 

Ne<iroes belou<rin.r to citizens of New York. 



CHAPTER V. 



Da.vgers of the Confederation. 

THE defects of the Confederation continued to increase the difficulties of 
the situation to such an extent that the outlook was anything but 
hopeful. A powerful party in Congress added to the existing com- 
plications a positive leanin;j towards a subjection of the interests of the 
United States to France. While appreciating the services of that friendly 
power, Hamilton was strenuously opposed to any " undue preponderance of 
Foreignt influence." The Provisional Treaty with Great Britain had been 
signed November 30, 1782, but the Independence of the Colonies, still hung 
in the balance. The French Count de Vergennes in his efforts to force the 
quasi Independent States of America into the attiudc of diplomatic depend- 
encies of r'rance, was stoutly combatted in Congress by Hamilton, and to 
his efforts was the new Government indebted for release from this threaten- 
ing dilemma. 

Defects of the Conkederatio.n. 

The greatest apprehension in Hamilton's mini aro^e from the inability of 
the Confe leration to meet these foreign as well as domestic dangers. In 
June 17S3, ha prepared for submission to Congress a Resolution for a Conven- 
tion of the Stales, to correct t le defects in the organic law of the land 
Next to a strong "government for internal as well as external defense, his 
idea was necessary taxation, the observance of National good faith and stim- 
ulation and Protection of Home industries, boih for Revenue and Regulation. 
In the preamble to his liesolutio 1 he therefore renewed his efforts in that 
direction by enumerating among the defects to be remedied : 

The "vesting in Congress the power of general taxation, and yet rendering 
that power nugatory by withholding control of its imposition or collection." 



ALEXANDER HAMILTON. 21 

AGAIN Urges the Adoption of the Piuncipi.e of Protection. 

••Tn no vestinc in the United States a general superintendence of trade in 
In no. \estmg in ^" . q^ ^^evenue, beciuse duties on Commerce •■ 

v.ewof ^Y.^:]l""rec.e^^^^^^ productive species. Of 

Ur^^ilirof I c-^ so "y general prohibftions of particular artides, by ajadi- 

advantages, c.i ^'^f,.^"^';"^^^^^^^^^^ ir s essential to the due observ- 

?nc:::;u;:':o;;!:;Sit^Xc^:^t the united Stues with n.eign powers. 
RESIGNS His Seat i\ Congress. 
Ox Xovember 2^ 178^,, th-British forces evacuated New York City. No 
.:^r:erZ^^:i^L^, act of the British ^---nent initsa^^ 

Si^-s^s i^:^^^ S= T^:\S^^:!^l ^^or^ of that 
body to the real situation. 

PaoFESSioNAi.' Life. 

,„ p„... „o,», life Ila^iUo,, was ^^^<^^'^ ^Z^^l^^ 

d«y, 11l=re were "'"^ 1 ore k„™ be w tha,> himself .he imbecility 
Srrb'.t;5,r\WJ' g-rtoX pubiic avi, ,,.,u. vi:,d,:atio» a,,i„« tltts 

■Trowing t:,-; <lency to popular disparagement 

Predicts the Influence of American Liberty. 

STttS'etl^ui .^ ;;-eUe"™ e i„ the -. of U-.y h» occa.oj.d^a 

L'^iVies -vh,cL....y .b_Ue .uo «j,5.-J^ S^^^^^^^^ 

The inRuoncc an I vig )i ot ! lamiuon s P-'^ >- ,. j fj^g object 

lendency to popular license ^^ th^ -- --^^ ^ :i^n.inei efforts 
of premed.tited personal ^''f ^=^^>.f''^f ^u?"/" ,v dub of gentlemen (?) 
agaiLt the deigns of th. -^^ -^P-;^^;'- ^ It ^Tsolemnl. resolved 
wasformcd inNcwXo.K I. ci.iYss^n 3^^^,;^^^ pretexts until he 

,hat one a.ter ano'.he ^^^^-'''^' Vjf [-V^;;!'^^!,^ ^ad answered " Phocion " 
should be p.l out o the W.0; ,^^^ ^[^^„J>£ ^^i^^Hous plot. While he was 

IS Sh^^;::. tcf^S^e^ ti^Zl .uest addressed the latte. 





Mffi 



i 



w 




by hi, now de plume "Mentor." Hamilton hearing it, for the firsttinie knew 

who his anonymous friend was, and seizing him by the hand exclaimed : 
"Then yoa, my deac sir, are the friend who saved my life." 
To which Ledyird replied " Tliat sir, you know, you once did for me." 
In 17S4, Hamilton took an active part in founding the Ijank of New York, 

the ft St institution of the kiul in tliat State and the second in the United 

States. 

FOU.NDING THE FiRST SOCIETY FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE SLAVES. 

During the Revolutionai-y struggle Hamilton strongly urged upon Cong- 
ress the arming of the Negroes of the South for military operations against 
the British, and in his efforts was ably and vigorously seconded by the best 
men of the South. After the Independence of the Colonies had been secured 
he was ear y in the field against slavery in the Sta^p of New York and for .the 
accomplishment of that object was. one of the founders of the Manumission 
Society of that State. 

Revising the Government. 

The brief space of tliree years had sufficed to demonstrate that something 
had to be done to strengthen the General Government or the Union would go 
to pieces. Hamilton's efforts in that direction in 1783 were now 'recognized 
as necessary. The Legidature of New York, named him a Delegate to the 
Convention at Annapolis, which met September 11, 1786, to consider a uni- 
form system of Tiade and Commerce. Four States not being represented, it 
was decided to recommend the calfing of a Convention to meet in Phila- 
delphia, second Mond.iy in May, 1787, "to devise such further provisions as 
shall appear to them necessary to render the Consntution of the Federal Gov- 
ermient adequate to the exegeacies of the Union." Hamilton was selected 
and drafted the address to the States, which led to the Convention of 1787, 
which framed the Federal Constitution as we have it to-day. 



CHAPTER VI. 



Appointed to the Co n'stitutional Convention. •; 

HAVING been chosen a Member of the Legislature of New York, 
Hamilton exerted himself to secure their co-operation in bringing 
about the proposed convention of the States. In February, 1787, he 
introduced a Resolution instrucdng the New York Delegates in Congress to 
move for a convention to "revise the articles of Confederation and perpetual 
Union between ihe United State ," and also a re olution to appoint delegates 
to meet those of other S ates. The dominant party in ihe New York ■ egis- 
lature was not favorable to strengthening the powers of the general govern- 
ment, but when the time came to select t' e delegates to the Constitu ional 
Convention, Alexander Hamilton was named. He was handicapped how- 
ever, by the appointment of two colleagues, Yates and Lansing, who were 



ALEXANDER HAMILTON, 



23 



opposed to his views, and were chosen to present, if possible, any steps to 
create a Federal system with certain powers of general administration. 



The Libi 



IN THE Ascendancy. 



The Convention which gave the United States of America a frame of Gov- 
ernment worthy of their destiny, met at Philadelphia, Pa., May 14, 1787. 
One of the first ac s of the Convention was the submission b.' fiamilton of a 
plan of con-titulion of Government which formulated iheessen:ia' features of 
the Federal system of mree coordinate branches, afterwards elaborated and 
finally adopted. , 

Th*^^ business of the Convention soon took the form of two deSnite and 
opposite propositions, viz.: 

The Virginix plan wiiich contemplated a National Government with execu- 
tive, legislative and judicial powers, advanced by Ec'mund Randolph, and 
The New Jersey plan, or simply an amendment of the existing confederation. 

Hamilton's Idea. 

In the course of the disc ission Hamilton delivered an elaborate speech set- 
ting forth his iews on the subject, generally and explanatory, of the frame of 
Government he had submitted. He favored an Elective Assembly, a Senate 
to serve during good behavior, a Governor (President) chosen- during good 
behavior with power of appointments,, to be confirmed by the Senate, and the 
appointment of Governor.'; of States by the general Government, to have the 
negative of laws. In a word liis idea was to create a Nalioial Government 
capable of sustaining itself,, with a counter-balance against the State govern- 
ments which were to be maintained in a subordinate relation. Hamilton, 
however, conceded that pulilic sentiment, his unerring guide to the popular 
will, was not ready to go so far in forming a more positive centralization of 
authority in the general Go-'ernment. He accordingly sustained the " Vir- 
ginia plan," as approximating his views, and as a wide improvement on the 
Confederation. 

Ha.milion's: Colleagues Quit in Disgust. 

As the business of the Convention progressed and the sentiments of its 
members began to c ystalli/.e in defined measures, the two reactionist dele 
gates from Ne V York discovered that the Convention was controlled by a 
positive Liberal majo,-ity, and had therefore, succeeded in maturing a com 
pletely new system of Government. On the strength of these revelations 
Hamilton's colleagues, on July 5 17S7, withdrew from the Convention. In 
explaining their action t J the licverno-- and people of New York for cam- 
paign clap-trap use, ihe^ claimed that. their cretlentials did not cjntemplate 
the fofinaiion of a consolidated Government. The Convention was better 
without them. 

Edmund Randolph's Views. 

That there was an exercise of power beyond thit which a" literal construc- 
tion of authority would suggest was admitted, but Hamilton, on that subject, 
stood with Edmund Randolph, of Virginia, a leading spirit of the Convention, 
who said, '• We owe it to our country to do on this emergency, whatever we 
shall deem essential to its happiness. The States sent us here to provide for 
the exegencies of the Union. To rely on and propose any plan not adequate 



/ 



Mm 



24 



ALEXANI>KK HAMU/l'DN. 



U) those excgencid^,, merely because ii was not clearly within CMir powers 
would be to sacrifice the end to the me irs." 

The Nai'ional Coxstitution Adopted. 

The form of Coiislitiitioi as it stands to day having bee:i' adopted, Hamil- 
ton was appoinicd one of a committee to ie\ise the ^.t^le.aiKl arrangement. 
This bavin''- been omp eted, it was found thai ihe culminati::g act ol signing 
the in inunent was in dagger of faii:„g through the absence of many ot the 
delegates. Me, theielue*trged its ^ignature by he merrbcrs present as 
the teu that could be done, and trusted to the wisdom and patriotism ot the 
States to ratify iheir action. Tnis c mrse was adopled, and the permanent 
Federal form of Ciovernment of the United States of America was M^ned and 
the Convention adjourned Sept 17, I7«7- ' l"-" ■eport of the ConvenUo lu as 
submiued to Cong -ess Sept. 28. 17S7, w-is adop:ed With ,ut p-o on-ed deoate 
and submitted to the Stales f.r ratification. W Uhm three months the ConstH 
tution was ra'ihed, hrst by .he State of i)ela rare, .-.ivA by eleven ol the ^>tates. 
l,v i uly 26 1 788. Two States, Nor;h Caroiina and Rhode Isia d ratihec after 
lliJcons,ituti)n wc:U into oper.Uion. In the New York Convention o rati- 
healio:i. of which he -.vas a meml)er, Hamilton supported the Consuitution 

""oVe'ofaietno^t co.tsp.caous c:)nsiaorations in Hamilton, s mi^.d in favor of 
the Constitution, wa. Ih .t it ha. I the g.,od-will ot the c;mmcrc<al ;"t<^^ts of 
th.e Stales which wo Id, he said •' add thcr iniiueace 1 . >upport of the estab- 
li^hme .t of a Government c.ipable of regulating, proiectirg and exlt-iding the 
commerce of liie Union." 



C!IAi'i"!n< VIl. 



Hamii. 



IXSTI I IJl'ION. 



OF the sixty-liv.e members eho.en to ihe Convention of 1787, ten 
never attemL-d-its mectm ^s, ihir.y n.ne ..ig.ied the Const.tuuon and 
sixteen re n^d lo sig it.' The prel.mina' les leading to he ^onven- 
ti.u intelhgenl co-oper.uion mci.lent I., die framing of the Lonstitution, a 
he iillu-"ce ne<-essavy to secure its .adoption, v.cc promoed m-re > the 
eLt cf :Clexamlvr Hamiit.n than any • iher single individual -n the United 
S ^ ltm.lton stand fowa.d as the e . liest and m , t .ealo j pj-o.iujter 
-nd r,ro)Ou:der of Conslit :tional (ioverr.ment in Amcr c.,. M.tdioon takes 
coitpXu r.-nk as .he framer of its form, as exe.aphh-l m the Const.tu- 
tion of Government of the Ui.i ed Mates. 

Tiiii F)-:;ii.R.vi.isT P.vi'Eks. . ■, 

On October 27, ijijV t^re appeared the ftrst of thit series of celebrate 1 
r^aners the /v./;;,z/^7, a suppo t of the new Constitution, which comi.iue-d 
S htieiySS .d;diichlvere republidi-d with excellent eff:-ct throtigh- 
oS he States and even in foreign countries These papers numbered eighty- 
fi^e and vve?e die joint production of Alexander Hamilton, later Secretary 
f the rriasury, who wrote fifty-one, James Madison, afterwards President 




ALEXANDER. HAMfLTON. 



of the I'niled States, wlio wrote twenty-nine, and John Jay, later <'liief 
!n-,tici- oT'lIk' L'liited Stales, \vho wroie five. <»: 

[Iamilion's Wdkk Apprkciatkd. 

I he ("onsfi'iuliun was raltfteil* by ihs Sta e of Ne v Vcft^'k-oa July 26, i7S8. 
On July 29. Ilamiltoi arrived in New \"ork from tlvi protracted and long- 
doublful contest in convention ,t Poughkeepsie, and resumiat( his seat m 
Congress had the ineriied honor of p:esenting to that body the formal 
instri.meiU of ratification by that State. The news of the ratirtcatio 1, after 
tlie desperate effort; of Gcrvernor Clin.oa ad others lodefeatit, was received 
with great enthusiasm. A procession of merch.mts, traders, and artis.ns, _ 
displayed banners bearing the portraits of Washington and llamihon. 'the 
printers aprieared vv'ith a [)ress and banner Irearing the familiar /■.•*•« c'c pl:t>:c 
ot the I'\' wralist, '• Publiiis.'' The sailmakers bore upon a stajje ih; nev/ 
Con- titution and a banner with the figtueof Hamiltoa, holding in his left 
hand the scroll of the Confed.r.Uion and v.\ his right the Cons ituiio i, uhiic 
Kame, wilh her trumpet and laurels appeared i:i the act of crowning him 
Conspi uous, .d>o, was the Inderal Frigate M.imihon, I'ally manned, respond 
ing svidi f. eqt.ent salutes 

IlA.MIl.ioN IX T! E I'lKSl CA.MI'.VIGN. 

In the (i st elction owing to th:; opposition of tlie Clntoiiians, there were 
no New York elector-, and in the fir>t session of the 1st Congress no Sena- 
iTirs from New York appeared. 

Soon after, ri ihe Sia;e elect ons, the •"c;lera!ists urga.ir.ed for a contrst. 
Governor Clinton, the leader of the aati- 1 eder^lists, was candidate for Cov- 
ernor • His opj)oncnt was Chief Ju'^tice Yates. Hamilton, le.iding the 
Kederahs?*;, supported Yates. , C int.nj. tr.e former autocrUof reactionary 
pditics in the Sta e, was e'ect d by so' small a majority that his leadership 
was broken, and (Ut of si.x Representatives from New York to tlie rew 
Congress, Ibur v>-ere l-'eciera ists. 'Die po itical complexi;jn of ilie Stale 
Assembly v>as als . revoUition;/.ed, the l'"ederalists c.rrying a majority of 
both branches which led ,0 ihe eicci on of tv/o Unit.d States .--lenacors before 
the clo e of the lirsl Congress. 

Uamii.kin I'iRST SKCRi:rARY oi'- THic Tricasury. 

No :-ooner had the choice of the peopL- patriDtically fallen upon "A'ashing- 
lon to be the I'lrst I'resitJenl of the IJnited states, under the Constituiioa of 
1787, than he announce 1 his intention to p'.ace Alexander Hamilton at the 
head of the financ.al department of lis .Vdmiaistra ion T.iis was re- 
ceived V. ith approl)alion a:;;ong the fi lends of ihe new Constitution Robert 
Morris, the expericnceil linancier, spoxe ot him as ''the o e man in ihe 
United .Sta'es c;;mpelent to cope with ihe extr me diffnu lies of that -office" 
Congress, in the reorg.mization of ihe c.xecuiive, e tablished the Tre.isdry. 
Department on .Sep ember 2, 1789, and on the 11th of Ihu irKtnth I lamiiton ' 
was appointed its hrst chief ofificer. 1 fe was uot\' .but 32 vears of age,, bjf 
his public services had made him the hrst .statesman of hi day. 

ORCANiziNt; riiE Treasury. 

His first duty in his new held'was the arrangement of the methois and 
forms of the business details of his department. So perfect was the system 
that he devised, and so capable of expansion to meet every requirement, that 



26 ALEXANDER HAMILTON. 

it has not been improved upon nor materially changed after a century of 
trial, and is still in active operation in every department of admmistration 
and accounts. 

The tSTAbLISHMENT OF PUBLIC CREDIT. 

Ten davs after assuming charge of the department, Conj^ress called upon 
Hamilton for a report vpon the pro.nsions to be made for the National debt, 
and to sustain the National credit. This repovl was' made at the ensuing ses- 
sion, January 14, I790- He favored an observance of good laith with all 
public creditors witliouL resort to sh;.rp practice as proposed 'by some. His 
funding system was based on this idea, and ^^ns arned over g; eat oppositir.n. 
He also advocated the assumption of the Statejcbts incurred during the war 
oftherevolution,-asanactof"sound p.;!icy and substantial justice. .n 
this he was also successful. . . n 

Hamilton's Financial Policy a Success. 
The finances of the Government at 'once 'bfegan ^«-^*hibU the vitalizing 
effects of hi-, pol.cy. President WasliingtoW annotr- ' n^. littlo more 
than thirteen S.on.hs $1,900,000 had beenieol leered, . ^^f^S^ 

stanliaily worthless had gone up to 75 cet«fe on ' y. i^t a 

as comiwred ^^ ith the bani;rupt Treasai>Ol the lei-ation. 

F.STABLISHMENT OF THE FlRST N A . iu.n v^ IUNK. 

Part of his plan for the restoration of the finances was the e<t«il)lishvnent o 
a \a or a B&. To that end he submitted a chaiter with ,1 capital stoc^^of 
?;,o oco 000 The Senate adopted ih. i^.easure substantially as submitted 
bi?"in^h^ House it was attacked with great ferocity by the s.ame class who 
Xp-led tlie disgracef 1 system of the Confederation, ^^S^.njt tl^ wise an^ 
vita izino- orincinks of the onslitution. They now rais.d ta^^cr/ that tiie 

E; Sgnhig of the bid, and Madiso rt the request " ,^^^^'"^^^ ^"^^^^ 



,.dmo.influ^tialopponen.ofte.^ 



S;^1t^s ^^ vel^^andth.; avrough the i resi tible --gj^^-^^ 
iici sig'^d the act for the incorporation of the Second iHTational bauK^o. the 
United Slates. . ,,„t.,^ 

The Excise and Bonded Warehouse Systems Established. 

Notwithstanding the liberal revenues flowing in from ^.^^^''^^^^^^.f^fSye'Sv- 
lished, the receipt^ were still $826,000 f-f^f ^'-^^^^^j ^ ^ll/ 7^^^^^^ 
ernment Plamilton now went a step further. •^^^^V , ^^ on Pvri<je 

Submitted his second report on public credit m -^^f^ns'Sn thLdSfs 
upon domestic wines and spirits, but with such "-'^^^ *ic^J'°"^"^°^Vrternpor- 
British system as to meet with success. He favoied the excise as a temp 



ALEXANDER HAMILTON. 





27 



ary expedient, because it would afford the necessary increase of revenue 
without resorting to a " land tax," a direct blow to agriculture. 

In the same report Hamilton suggested the system of bonded warehouses, 
one of the greatest conveniences ever devised in behalf of the importing 
trade. 

ESTABLISHMEXT OF THE MiNT. 

Hitherto the Nation had no destinctjve National coinage. Hamilton saw 
the importance of this, not only as a matter of convenience, but of National 
dignity He sug.'::;es;ed the bas s of ihe denominations, designs and value oi 
the coins, and made oilier recommendations essential t) the success of the 
scheme. The discussion was ])rotvacted, but his plan in its material points 
finally prevailed. Coinage was mad-.- free except when coin was simultan- 
eously exchanged for bullion, in which case one-half of one per cent, was 
deducted. The ratio of gold to silver was as one to fifteen, which, however, 
was afterwards found erroneous and lemedied. 



CHAPTER Vni. 



The First Protective Legisi,aito\. 



r 



■".V form 

•:itions. 

This 

1 e im- 

1 he pre- 



HE ne// Constitution haviitg specifically granted to the Congie-^s o{ 
the Ur ited States the power to rrise revenue, and ragul/^ tr.ide and 
the bankrupt condiiioir of the Notional exchequer v/'r-^'" 

went into operation, render.d it necessary in the v-.-rv iie : 

tion to pass a biil to r ise fuid-; to meet ac :iimu rsted and ■-. ■ 

James Madl^^c, the franier of the 'JiMislitution, prep ■ 

bill provided "th.it duties be laid on goods, war. ' 

ported, " and was the first bu one p:i>sed by the i 

amble stated three reasons for its j-assage: 

1. " For the support of Government." 

2. "For the di-;charg-.; of the debts of the United .- 

3. " Foi- the encouragement and protec:io i of m.ir.- " 

The debate on the me sure also showed a decided ad.-ooacy of the pro- 
tective systf m as a me.isure of N ational policy. 'Jhe eiecl of tins preliminary 
statute was immedia ely felt in the prompt inflow of revenue, lise of Govern- 
ment credit, quickening of home industry, and activity of home markets. 

Hamilton Asked tq Furnish a Plvn to Qi^va Out Washington's 

.4 , RE.COl|ME.\pATI0NSj ^ 

On January 15, 1790; the House of Representatives, having resolved it.self 
into commilt. e of the v. hole on the btate of the Union,, reported a resolution 
distributing the President's messa.^-e. Among other recommendations by 
Presid. nt Washington was tliQ following : • ■ 

"A free people ought not only to be armed, but disc plined, to which end 
a uniform and well dige ted plan is requisite; and their safety and interest 
require that they ^h^-d'' i^rom^t^ snrh inrmnfirtrivii'^ a-; tend to render t'leni 



ALEXANDER HAMILTON. 



independent of othns for essential, and particularly military supplies * 

* * The advarc;nient rf agriculture, commerce and mahufactures by all 
proper means will nqt, I trust need recommendation." On this the House 
Ordered, That it be referred lo the ^ ecretary of the Treasury, to prepare 
and report to this IJqiise a proper plan or plans conformably lo the recom- 
mendations of the jiresident Ci ihe llniled States in his speech to both 
Houses of Congres-;, for tlie encoura<jenient and promotion of such manufac- 
tories as will tend loirender the Ui iled Sta es independent of other nations 
for es^erlial, pr.riicularlv for military supplies." 

Hamilton's Cetedrated Report on Manufactures. 

On December 5, 1791, Secr«tary Hamilton communicated his reply to the 
House of Re]>-csemauvcs. Thi; report determined ihe future economic 
policy of the Nation. Its wisdom has Ijeen exernplificd at every step of 
.\ational progress. The theory of the tconomic doctrines advocated as ex- 
pressed by Haniilo liii^self, nnd let patriotic Americans observe, was "to 
let the thirteen States bmnd together in a great indissoluble union, concur 
in erecting one gre.U system superior to the control of trans-atlantic force or 
r.^fluerce, and .-^ble to dictate the connection between the eld and the new 
v.or.d " In other words, HamiltoriV, idea was net so much the creation of 
a prGtf<!tive ns r.n '• -iniericn system,." v.hi-.h should establish the complete 
'u'orcmy of .■\;-ner)C.;Vi irid.ustry, and the preservation of the American mar- 
liefs for American ) ro-:hicts. /, 

It V ()u;d bo in'i])rcct'cai)."^.tp i:iyg; in this conntcticn the fu'l text of this 
;;ieat Stnte p.-per. -'^rS^ff^^ cl'its chief features will, therefore, have to 
sullce, V. iih the MIL jfeticpj^ov.cv jr, that every citizen of the Uiiited States, 
havine the intr;e. ts^j^i^ (.jowiHjry ai,-d his countrymen a: heart, should read 

- , , OI<' THK RktORT. 

Hi"' ,;l'icct as follows: " The embarrass- 
iv.oi' c s of our external trade have led to 
of enlarpii.'g the sphere of our domestic 
. >ns, which in foreign markets abridge 
our agricultural pioduce, serve to beget 
demand for ihat surplus may be 
!( le .success Miich has re.varded manufactar- 
irg- cntcrpr :,c in some valuable branches, conspi.ing with the promising 
:yn)ptG:ns v.Iiich attend ^o^r.e!!ess mature es ays in otheis, justfy a hope 
lliat the obsta'.les to the growth of this species of industry are less formidable 
than they we: e tpprthemed to he, and that it is net difi^cult to find, in fur- 
ther extension, a full indcrpnii^caiion fcr ex ernal cisadvantages, which are 
or may be experienced, as weM as an accession of rescur9cs favorable to 
Natioiral indeper,dt-r.cc rnd ^r.feW.' - * ;' '' 

He then presents the p hitipa!\nrgujj:ients of those unlrierdly to encourag- 
ing raDHufcctures and ariswerA tlielri. He showS that the claim that 
agriculture is the only productive Wdustry, is not sustained by facts. 

I.MPoRTANCF.'oF MANUFACTORIES. 

He next demonstrates that mai-mfacuring establishments not only occasion 

a positive augmentation of the produce and revenue of society, but that they 



Secretary i 
r.^ci ts vvhicii 


-•striidi't (» 
■f-t i>V. 


senous ri flct 




commeice 

liiC vent of ir.i •;T': 


i'i' 


an earrerit I'cMrt;- . 
;ve-itcd at heme, a. . 


S 



1 lis .' i our 
tAiensive 




ALEXANDER HAMILTON. 



29 



contribute essentially to rendering them greater than they could possibly be 
without such establishments. This proposuion he considers under the fol- 
lowing heads : * 

1. Division of labor. 

2. An extension of the use of machinery." 

3. Additional employment to classes of the community not ordinarily en- 
gaged in business. 

4. The promoting of emigration from foreign countries. 

5. The furnishing greater scope for the diversity of talents; 

6. The affording vi more ample and various field for enterprise, 

7. The crenting, in some instances, a new, and securing inall, a more cer- 
tain and steady demand for the surplus produce of the soil. 

How Manufactures May fe Encouraged. 

Afier an elaV.-orate tre?.tment of each of these heads and a presentation ot 
the inducements- 1.> the p'omotion of manufactures in the United States, he 
submits and discusses the means l)y which the c ends may b^ effected under 
the following heads : | 

1. Protecti'ig duties, or duties on those foreign articles wh-cli are the 
rivals of the dom( slic ones intended to be encouraged. 

2. Prohibitiois of rival articles, or duties equivalent to prohibitions. 

3. Prohibitions of the exp rtation of the materi ;ls of manufactures, , 

4. Pecuniary bounties, applicable to Uie whjle quan'.'-- '>f r^-i "vti'-!'' '^ r> 
duced, m.anufaciared or evport d. 

5. Premiums or rewards f ir some pariicular cxc-l' 

6. The exempiiou of the nia erials of n'.inufic cssag 
to ihe success of a n w manulaclure. 

7. Drawbacks of tivj duties which n.!e impo-^^ ifiami- 
factures. • 

i>. The encouragement of new inven io is and l.. . .,..,., and of 

the iiitroduciion inio 1 he United ^tates of such as r.: :en made in 

other countries, part culnrl/ ihose which re ate to macli 

9. Judicious regulations for the inspectio.i of mmulacluied commodities. 

10. file faci'itaiin:! of pecuniary remittances from ])lace to place. 

11. The ffxiiitating of the tran portation of commodities. 

The rep'irt then treat-; upon llie capacity of the country to furnish the raw 
material; the degree ii whi h the nature of the manufacture admits of a sub- 
stitute fof- m.T.iu .1 labor i;i machinery ; the facility ■ f excculion, and the (^\ten- 
siveness of 'the uses to whicli the art cle can be iipplied. Then follows a 
designa ion of the princ'pal raw material of winch e;.ch manufacture is com- 
posed, under the heads, iron, c pper, lead, coal, vvdcd, skins, grain, flax and 
hemp, cotLon, wool, silk, glaes, gunpowder, paper, antl refined sugar and 
chocolate. : , 

I his report, written at die age of thirty-four - ears, was unquestionably the 
ablest of ad the able State p.ipers prepared by Hamil on. In its preparation 
he consumed nearly two years adding to his already large stock > f inforina- 
tion on the economic c nditions of his own country, a series of extensive 
inquiries ioto ihe policy of foreign countries. He also took time to study the 
practical operations of the protective-tariff act of 1789, particularly in its effect- 
aS a means of revenue and encouragement of home industry. 




The Practical Test. 

The vindication of these doctrines has been complete through the practical 
results of industrial energy and prosperity during i heir supremacy, and National ' 
calamity and industrial disaster during their abatement. Even Jefferson and 
his anti-federalist follower^ could not stand before the people against them in 
1792. When they came in control of affairs later they were forced to yield 
to public sentiment, and support the Hamiltonian or American economic 
system. In 1809 a Congress having a majority opposed to Hamilton's ideas 
of Federalism ordered the report to be reprinted. 

The System Complete l\ its Lxception and Formulation. 

As has been truly saidby one of Hamilton's biographers, " the inferences 
and arguments adduced in the report constituted as able a presentation of 
the protectionist theory as has ever been made. Arguments have since been 
put into new forms, ancl a host of fresh similies and comparisons have been 
suggested; but the substance of the reasoning has received no material 
accession," since the report of 1791 first formulated the fundamentarydoctrines 
of the "American system " of protect! :in. 




CHAPTER IX. 



IT is not necessary to enter into a discussion of the heated political con- 
troversies which had tlieir origin in the differing views of statesmen 
during the earlier formative perioid of National existence. It is sufficient 
to say that Alexander Hnmilton was always the foremost champion of federal- 
ism in its fullest exemplifica'.ion in the fundamentary principles and practical 
development of Constitutional government, responsible and vigorous methods 
of administration and sound doctrines of finance and public economy. His 
views on all great questions, earnestly endorsed by Washington, were in- 
spired by the loftiest appreciation of die high aims and purposes of American 
irisfitu'tions and destiny. 

Tendered the Office of Chikf Justice of the United States. 

The vacancy on the Supreme Bench of the' United States caused by the 
appointment in 1794 of Chief Justice Jay, on the recommendation of Ilamil- 
ton, to negotiate the much-needed commercial treaty with England, was ten- 
dered to Hamilton but was declined. 

Hamilion's Work. 

When Hamilton entered the cabinet of Washington he saw around him 
nothing but the debris of the old confederation, blasted credit at home and 
abroad, a bankrupt Treasury, a Union bound by a rope of sand, commerce 
and industries at the mercy of England, and business without a responsible 
circulating medium. When heleft the cabinet five years after, (Jan. 31, 1795,) 





ALEXANDER HAMILTON. 



3t 



through his efforts, the public debt had been funded, the State delus 
on account of the war had been assumed by the general Government a 
National Bank had been organized, a System of gradual redemption of the 
public debt had been adopted, a fiscal system and method of Treasury admin- 
istration organized, the people had a trustworthy currency, commerce 
was rapidly increasing in spite of the malign influence of the commercial 
regulations of Great Britain, the coastwise trade was expanding with marve- 
Ijus rapidity, agriculture was prosperous, manufactures were developing, 
the tide of Western emig'-ation had set in, taxes were paid promptly, popu- 
lation and wealth were increasing rapidly, the revenues were large and o-row- 
ing, and the influence of American institutions was attracting an inflow of the 
oppressed. 

The Counsel of Wasmixgton axd Hamilton'. 

• Notwithstanding his withdrawal from the direction of public affairs, Ham- 
i't.i: „ ;.■-■.-■ 'i Ui. lUministration of Washington with great vigor, and when 
that great citizen was about to retire from public service he turned to his 
trusted friend and counsellor to aid him in the preparation of that immortal 
embwdiment of the highest example of American patriotism and the purest 
principles of American institutions, the " Farewell Address" That docu- 
ment, so marked by the impress of Hamilton's ideas and diction, may be 
regarded not only as a fitting sequel to the public services of two of Ihe 
noblest examples of American citizenship, but as wise counsel to the living 
generation of American citizens, whether in public or private station, and 
especiiUy when confronted by un-American doctrines dissemminated by 
foreign political organizations through alien and native mercenaries and dupes. 

Closing Events of a Great Life. 

. Although nine years elapsed before Hamilton met his tragic fate the events 
of these closing years of his brilliant career may be Indefly told. 

Hamilton Succeeds Washincton in Command of the Army. 

In the summer of 1798 the army of the United States was increased on 
account of threatened difficulties with France. Ex-President Washington 
was tendered the post of Comn-ander in Chief with the rank of Lieutenanl- 
CJeneral. lie accepted upon condition that Alexander Hamilton should be 
made a Major-Cleneral, second in command. Upon the death of Washing- 
ton, December, 1799, Hamilton succeeded to the Commandinchief. Vvhcn 
France found that the new Government was not to be trifled with, her mar- 
tial ardor abated. The prospects of war thus dissipated Hamilton, in Jul}'', 
1800, resigned the command preferring to resume his profession, 

Hamilton and Aaron Burr. 

Washington entertained towards Burr a most profound aversion, consider- 
ing him an unscrupulous and dangerous man. llamilton had prevented him 
from being sent upon a foreign nussion during the administration of Adams. 
Hamilton had frustrated his bold scheme for the Presidency even to the extent 
of earnestly urging federalists to support Jefferson, despite the fact that the 
latter had led intrigues against his measures of public economy and Federal 
policy. Jefferson hated Burr as a poliiical trimmer, and when in power 
inaugurated the movement to expel him from his party. Madison hated him 
as a possible rival in the future selection for the Presidency. 



11 



32 



ALEXANDER HAMILTON. 



1 iek!.;a: ANi) K[-.v:;nv.e. 

Hamilton's opposition to Barr at this tune gre«' Int of the fact that certain 
intiuences were at work to create an opinion favorable to a rijsinemberment 
of the Union. He had rea><ni to think that Burr's sch-;me was to make him- 
self the chief of the northern puition. lla-::i]ton knew that with su h an 
nnscrupidous man in the <;ubernatori ,1 chair of New Voik the scheme would 
have many of the elements (f success Bmr was nominated and defeated, 
liis last hope of recovering his lest ground had vanished. 

Till-: CHAt.i.r.Nc.K. 

On June i8, 1804, about two months after his defeat, ISurr v. rote to Gen- 
eral Hamilton reviving cerlr.in alleged expressions during the campaign and 
marie ])ublic by a third )) aty and accomplice, and asking'an acknowledgment 
or denial. On June 20th. Hamilton, by letter, declined to avow or disavow^ 
the alleged remaCks, vhi;Ji led lo further correspondence and lir,aily to v'he 
challenge from Burr. 

'I'UF. IV M.. J 

On the morning of July ir, 1804, the parties ii/et on a ied<-e beneath the 
heights of Weehavvken. on the Hudson. On this same spot in r8o2, Hamil- 
ton's elde t son, aged 20, Vv'as killed in a duel with a political assassin who 
had insulted his father's name. The word "pre ent " having been given, 
'Burr; without waiting for iurthcr command, took deliber,ite . im and fired. 
Hauiilfw.n convu sivciy i" 'sed and fell on h'S face, his pistol -going, off in the 
air. Burr, anil \Vm. P. V: n Ness, his nccouiplite hastened to their boat and 
ded from the .scene of so coward y and i.)-erreditated a murder. Tlamilton 
raised to a sitting position exc aimed, ' • this is a mortal wound," and fell into a 
swoon. His c mpanions bore him to the boat and lo his home. 

HaMILVON \ CoKPSIv AND BURK A FuCtTIVE AN1> OUTCAST. 

At Z p. M., the next d.iy, July 12, at the age of 47 -lears, the spirit o( 
Alexander Hami.ton pcssed into eternity. Dur ng his few hours of agony 
his fellow citizens vvatched every varying condition, and with grief and tear's 
for the victim, mingled expressions of execration towards the assassin. The 
murderer fled for his life only to enter upon other scheme -i for the disruption 
.-md ruin of his c~untry. His accomplices hid themselves from the just 
7 unishment of outraged public sentiment. Thoujdi Hamilton condemned 
duelling he accepted the chare!i;.';e in the interests of his cour.trv as a public 
man. The great Chan-ellor Kent Uiall be Ilamiiton's .sole panegyrist. 
.Speaking of a visit to -'the Grange," the ihancellor referred to a plan of 
work Hamilton v'as then conteinplating which should embrace a "full inves- 
tigation of the history and science of i ivil government, and he practical results 
of the various n edifications of it upon the freedom and happi.ness of mankind. 
It is prinfal to reflect what was thus lost." "1 have lit Ic doubt," says the 
chancellpr, " that if General Hamilton had lived twenty years longer he 
would have rivalled Socates or Bacor, or any of the sages of ancient or 
modern times m researches after truth and in benevolence to mankind. The 
acijve and profound state- men, the learned and doquent lawyer, would prob- 
ably have disappeared in a great degree before the character of the sage 
philosopher, instructing mankind by his wisdom and elevating his country 
by his example.'' 



1i 



f 



Li:Ja"l2 



